we carried no less than twelve; eight being
stowed away in one of the cutters on the gallows, while the remainder
were distributed about the poop, ready for immediate use.

The first thing done was to get up on deck two good stout warps, and
bend them end to end, so that we might have plenty of length to work
with; and the inner end of this long line was then made fast inboard at
the fore-rigging. To the other end nine life-buoys were next securely
bent, in the form of a chain, with a length of about a fathom between
the buoys; and, finally, a long light heaving-line was bent on to the
extreme outer end of the warp. The warp was then carefully coiled down
on deck, ready for paying out; the buoys piled on the top of it; and the
spare part of the heaving-line carried out to the flying-jib-boom end,
where it was snugly coiled and stopped, ready for use.

Our preparations were now complete; and, having meanwhile been plying to
windward, the helm was put up, and we wore round to return to the wreck.
This operation provided work for us all, including Sir Edgar; and when
at length we got the ship round upon the starboard tack we found, to our
extreme vexation, that the circle we had made was so large that we
should be unable to fetch the wreck. This was terribly annoying at a
time when every minute lost might mean a human life; but we could do
nothing to rectify the matter except stand on far enough upon the new
tack to insure that when we next wore we should not again under-shoot
our mark. And if it was vexatious for us, what must it have been for
the poor fellows who, standing as it were within the very jaws of death,
were anxiously watching our every movement?

To our eagerness and anxiety the minutes seemed hours; but at length we
felt that we had reached far enough to justify another attempt; and upon
getting the ship round again we had the satisfaction of seeing that we
had measured our distance just right, and should be about able to fetch
the wreck, with little or nothing to spare. As we approached the brig,
the negro--who, now that he was separated from his late companions,
proved himself to be not only a first-rate seaman, but also a very
willing, good-natured fellow--most earnestly besought me to entrust to
him the task of manipulating the heaving-line, vehemently asserting his
ability to cast it further and straighter than any of the rest of us;
and I accordingly deputed that duty to him, whereupon he laid o